How Motherhood Affects Women’s Health

Becoming a mother brings big changes in a woman’s life. Suddenly you have a child that needs regular attention and care. Added to the other responsibilities and pressures of everyday living, it’s common for mums to feel they have no time for self-care, and put their health last.

But it’s important to remain vigilant against common health problems women may face after childbirth. After all, a healthy mum is better equipped to look after her family.

With that in mind, our Brisbane based gynaecologists have created a list of common health issues that busy mums should not ignore. We’ve included symptoms to watch out for, so you can stay healthy for the benefit of your loved ones and yourself.

Body Image Issues

During pregnancy, it’s expected that your body will go through some pretty dramatic changes. You’re creating new life after all – it’s no small feat! Pregnant women often fall into the belief that they are ‘eating for two’ and put on a bit of weight.

But after you’ve had the baby, your body continues to change. For the majority of women, the baby weight doesn’t effortlessly drop off. Your belly and breasts might never be the same as they were before. Stretch marks may remain. But it’s important to not let body hang-ups effect your enjoyment of life with your new child.

Speak to a professional if you experience the following:

Chronic, recurring negative thoughts about yourself

Constantly feeling depressed and helpless about your body

Binge eating or severe dieting that lasts more than a week

Be patient with yourself – just because a celebrity ‘bounces back’ to their pre-baby body 2 weeks after birth doesn’t mean you have to.

Lactation Problems

Breastfeeding issues are common especially in the first few days and weeks after delivery. As your body adjusts, you may experience the following symptoms:

Sore or cracked nipples – Try rubbing a few drops of breast milk on your nipple and areola and letting it dry. Pure lanolin cream on your nipples may also offer relief.

Blocked milk ducts – Milk plugs may cause a painful lump in your breast. Try gently massaging the area before and during breastfeeding to release the blockage.

Mastitis – This infection causes red and painful breasts and sore nipples. If massage and warm packs don’t help, you may need antibiotics to heal the condition.

Heavy Periods

There’s no absolute rule as to when your period will return after you’ve given birth. Depending on your hormonal levels, and even whether or not you choose to breastfeed, your period may return as early as 6 to 10 weeks after childbirth or only after you stop breastfeeding.

When they do resume, it’s common for periods to be heavier than normal for a few months. Painful cramps often accompany your first post-baby period. Every woman’s body is different, so expect that it might take a while for things to settle down.

See your health professional if you notice:

You’re soaking pads right through within an hour

Blood clots that continue for over a week

You feel fatigued after doing just small tasks

The consistency of your periods is getting thicker

Your cycle hasn’t stabilised after a few months

Urinary Incontinence

The birth of your baby may have stretched your pelvic floor muscles. When these muscles are traumatised by labour, muscle tone is weakened, which can lead to bladder control problems. The problems can continue for some time after childbirth, becoming quite uncomfortable and disruptive to your busy life.

A sensation of dragging (commonly at the end of the day) in your vagina

Sexual Issues

After you’ve waited the customary 4-6 weeks after childbirth to have sex, you may feel a bit apprehensive about intercourse. This is perfectly normal – your body has gone through a huge change and is still healing. It’s also common to have a low libido due to exhaustion, soreness and perhaps a little bit of overwhelm at all your new responsibilities.

If you’re reluctant to resume your sex life, don’t push yourself to do it before you’re ready. Talk to your partner and let them know how you feel. You might both be feeling unsure, and benefit from some gentle intimate touching and kissing before full penetration again.

There is a chance that you will feel tenderness when you start having sex again. Experiment with different positions where you can control the depth of penetration, and have some lubricants on hand to reduce any discomfort due to vaginal dryness.

Postnatal Depression

The transition to becoming a mother is a significant and challenging one. As such, postnatal depression is a common, but debilitating condition affecting 1 in 7 women following the birth of their baby. The extra demands of your time and energy can sometimes make it hard to cope.

If you notice the following symptoms, it’s important to get help as early as you can:

Feeling numb or emotionally detached

Lacking interest in your baby or life in general

Feeling helpless, worthless, or close to tears often

Anger or resentment towards other mothers, your baby or your partner

Feeling isolated, alone, and disconnected from others

Having thoughts of harming yourself, your baby or other children

Contraception

For new mums, we typically do not recommend resuming intercourse until you have had your postpartum check-up at six weeks. However, we do recommend that you discuss your contraception options with your doctor, as your ability to conceive can return as soon as a few weeks after birth.